Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Lastly, he foretells that God will never forsake his people, but will always assist them by his word and spirit: which two are conjoined together,¹ because without the efficacy of the Spirit, the word would profit nothing, but would remain fruitless. On the other side, we must not separate the one from the other, as some fantastical spirits dream, who in rejecting the word, pretend the name of the Spirit, and are ready to burst with a vain confidence, which they have conceived in their fantastical imaginations: for we must hold that for the spirit of Satan, which is separated from the word of God;² to which, the holy Spirit is ever more annexed. Now when he quickens the external word, writing it in our hearts by the finger of his Spirit; then is our condition happy even in the midst of infinite miseries. Neither do I doubt but it was the express purpose of the Lord to say, that albeit God meant to deal graciously with his Church; yet she must know that her life and salvation is hidden in him by faith. And thus the ancient people is discerned from the new: for as the Kingdom of Christ is spiritual; so from his resurrection from the dead, the souls of the faithful must ascend up on high with him.

Lastly, he foretels that God will neuer forsake his people, but will alwaies assist them by his vvord and spirit: which two are conioined together,¹ because without the efficacie of the Spirit, the word would profit nothing, but would remaine fruitlesse. On the other side, wee must not separate the one from the other, as some fantasticall spirits dreame, who in reiecting the vvord, pretend the name of the Spirit, and are readie to burst with a vaine confidence, which they haue conceiued in their fantasticall imaginations: for wee must hold that for the spirit of Satan, which is separated from the word of God;² to which, the holy Spirit is euer more annexed. Now when he quickens the externall word, writing it in our hearts by the finger of his Spirit; then is our condition happy euen in the midst of infinite miseries. Neither doe I doubt but it was the expresse purpose of the Lord to say, that albeit God meant to deale graciously vvith his Church; yet shee must know that her life and saluation is hidden in him by faith. And thus the ancient people is discerned from the new: for as the Kingdome of Christ is spirituall; so from his resurrection from the dead, the soules of the faithfull must ascend vp on high with him.